The 2020 Tsinghua SPPM Global Advisory Board (GAB) meeting was held at Tsinghua University on November 7. Twelve academic advisory members, including Ding Zhongli, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic League; Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of the Central Committee of China

Zhi Gong Party, and President of the 9th National Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology; and Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice-Chairman, the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Vice Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia attended the on-site meeting; while 13 academic advisory members including John L. Thornton, annual Co-Chair (International) of GAB, Chair Emeritus of the Brookings Institution, Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Asia Society, and Executive Chairman of Barrick Gold Corporation attended the meeting online.

 

 

Opening Ceremony

 

Wang Yi, State Councilor and the Foreign Minister, delivered a speech entitled, “Upholding Multilateralism to Tackle Global Challenges” at the opening ceremony. Wang Yi stated that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has put people's health and lives in jeopardy, plunging the world economy into deep recession, and accelerating the evolution of the international architecture. Facing this common challenge, whether the international community can choose solidarity over division, opening-up over isolation, and cooperation over confrontation has put the wisdom, conscience and courage of humanity to a grave test. What has happened since the start of COVID-19 has proved time and again that humankind is a community with a shared future, multilateralism is the right way forward, and that strengthened global governance is an urgent necessity. At the high-level meetings for the 75th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, Chinese President Xi Jinping, with an all-round consideration of this changing world, articulated China's firm commitment to multilateralism, the path of peaceful development, and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. He announced a host of proposals and initiatives aimed at tackling global challenges and advancing common development, and shared his vision on how to carry forward multilateralism and strengthen global governance in a post-COVID era.

 

Wang Yi delivering a speech

 

Chen Xu, Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua Committee and Chairperson of University Council, Tsinghua University, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. On behalf of Tsinghua University, she extended her warm welcome to the leaders, members, and guests present at the meeting. She mentioned the establishment of Tsinghua SPPM GAB as a milestone in its course of development. The members played an important role in the development of the Tsinghua SPPM and Tsinghua University in the past year. At present, the world is seeing major changes unseen in a century. Moving faster to improve the governance system and the global governance capabilities is imperative and important for us. The recently concluded Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th CPC Central Committee set a grand blueprint for the 14th Five-Year Plan period and the long-term goals by 2035. It also made important plans to modernize the national governance system and governance capabilities. In the context of this special background, the theme of this conference, “Challenges of Global Governance and Cultivation of Public Management Talents” , has timely and meaningful significance. Chen Xu expressed the hope that the members speak freely and contribute insights and wonderful ideas toward the construction of public management discipline and talent training and the reform of global governance.

 

Chen Xu delivering a speech at the opening ceremony

Keynote Speech

 

After the opening ceremony, GAB began its stage of annual meeting. Qiu Yong, President of Tsinghua University and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a video speech at the conference. He said that the global pandemic brought about major changes in the world unseen in a century, and the reform of the global governance system has posed a common challenge for mankind. In the face of the epidemic, Tsinghua University commits to its educational function while continuing its stringent measures to prevent and control the epidemic. It also implements reform to make new progress in university development. Given the development needs of human society, Tsinghua University and Tsinghua SPPM are committed to cultivating backbone professionals and leaders in support of advancing global human undertaking. He hoped that the GAB members would continue to provide ideas and suggestions for the cultivation of global public management talents, offer valuable opinions for the development strategy of Tsinghua SPPM and the construction of public management discipline, and share their wisdom in building a public management school with a global vision. The university will continue supporting the work of the Tsinghua SPPM and its GAB, and have faith in Tsinghua SPPM’s capability to shoulder its historical responsibility in the current times.

Qiu Yong delivering a video speech

Ding Zhongli, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People’s Congress and Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic League; Wan Gang, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chairman of the Central Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, and President of the 9th National Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology; and Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice-Chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Vice Chairman of the Boao Forum for Asia, delivered keynote speeches at the annual meeting.

 

Ding Zhongli delivered a keynote speech entitled “The Needs of High-level Comprehensive Talent Cultivation in Strengthening Global Governance Cooperation”. From his own experience, he shared insights on talent cultivation from the perspective of global cooperation and governance for sustainable development. He holds that young talents in global public governance should possess qualities in three aspects: value, mode of thinking, and knowledge accumulation. In terms of value, they should nurture compassionate feelings and a vision that transcends ideological classification and opinions about value. In terms of mode of thinking, they should have sufficient flexibility, inclusiveness and the ability to think from the perspectives of others. In terms of knowledge accumulation, they should have a broad knowledge structure and the initiative for lifelong learning. He suggested that Tsinghua SPPM improves the talent training system in three aspects. First is fostering communication and collaboration with ministries and agencies and putting in place a targeted cooperation mechanism for talent cultivation and provision for international organizations. Second is increasing cooperation among universities to form synergy and setting up a talent cultivation alliance for international organizations at Chinese universities. Third is creating additional internship opportunities for students to work at international organizations, important state departments, grassroots organizations, and non-profit organizations.

 

Ding Zhongli delivering a keynote speech

Wan Gang gave a keynote speech on innovation and cooperation in science and technology as well as talent cultivation in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. He reported that various countries provided China with medical supplies, technical support, and professional guidance at a time when China faced tremendous difficulties in epidemic prevention and control. In combatting the global pandemic, China actively fosters international exchanges and cooperation to overcome the challenges. China promotes the sharing of pandemic-combating knowledge and information, builds open exchange platforms, consolidates rigorous efforts to make technological breakthroughs, maintains multilateral cooperation mechanisms, and speeds up the application of emerging technologies to solve problems in epidemic prevention and control. It also contributes to the global fight against the epidemic, demonstrating China’s genuine desire and responsibility to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Wan Gang emphasized the urgency to advocate openness and inclusiveness, promote mutual learning and trust, and bring vitality to innovation-led cooperation in the post-epidemic period. Therefore, we should promote technological and cultural exchanges, uphold multilateral cooperation, and ensure the R&D and supply of vaccines and medicines. At the same time, on the base of the international cooperation and innovation in science and technology, we should foster global cooperation in scientific and technological governance, explore future global governance models, and create a better future for mankind.

 

Wan Gang delivering a keynote speech

Zhou Xiaochuan delivered a keynote speech on how to realize the goal of carbon neutrality by 2060. According to him, General Secretary Xi Jinping raised China’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 at an important speech during the UN General Assembly in September this year. Achieving carbon neutrality will be an arduous task for China in the next 40 years, with high emissions per unit and large total emissions. Considering this goal, achieving it with mere reliance on traditional task breakdown is difficult, as it may cause problems such as the lack of effective incentive and data distortion. Therefore, allocating substantial efforts in terms of institutions, market construction, and innovative technologies, among others, is necessary. He emphasized the necessity to improve the calculation and statistical methods of carbon emissions to achieve measurable carbon emissions for the entire society and industries, thus better meeting emission reduction targets. Second, the development of technologies such as carbon capture, carbon sequestration, and carbon sink should be encouraged, with carbon emissions cutting through innovative technologies. Third, efforts should be made to maximize the market mechanism, using carbon market and financial products to encourage the entire society to act toward the common goal of cutting emissions. Finally, we should strengthen international cooperation on carbon emissions targeting borderless areas and explore the establishment of relevant international governance mechanisms.

 

Zhou Xiaochuan delivering a keynote speech

First Session of the Annual Meeting

 

John L. Thornton, the annual Co-Chair (International) of GAB, hosted the first session of the meeting on the theme of “Challenges of Global Governance & Development and Reform of Higher Education”.

Thornton gave introductory remarks, highlighting the COVID-19 pandemic which brought new challenges and opportunities to the world. This public health crisis unseen in a century deepens our understanding of national and global governance and compels us to gain a better insight into the changes and development of the world. The GAB consists of excellent Chinese and international leaders in the field of global public affairs as well as world top well-known scholars. It works to serve the education undertaking of Tsinghua SPPM, facilitate the development of global public management, and improve the well-being of the people in China and the world.

 

John L. Thornton hosting the first session of the online meeting

Jiang Xiaojuan, Dean of Tsinghua SPPM, delivered a report on new challenges of the times and the cultivation of public management talents. In response to the changes and challenges of China’s public and global governance, she underlined the need to cultivate public management talents of high quality. Tsinghua SPPM must meet the new requirements in terms of the talent cultivation objectives, targets, content, and methods. To this end, Tsinghua SPPM will develop public management academic programs at a higher level, reform the existing postgraduate education system for professional degrees, and improve the capability of cultivating academic postgraduates. In the previous year, the Tsinghua SPPM has been involved in pandemic prevention and fighting by enhancing research on pandemic prevention policies, launching online and offline integrated teaching, promoting global anti-pandemic cooperation, and providing consultation for major national policies, which also demonstrates the realization of public values through practical actions. The GAB members are involved in many events of Tsinghua SPPM, providing advice and support. Finally, Jiang Xiaojuan expressed her heartfelt thanks to GAB members and hoped that the members can advise Tsinghua SPPM in diversified ways, foster international exchanges and cooperation, and help Tsinghua SPPM become a world-class public management school.

 

Jiang Xiaojuan delivering a speech

Margaret Chan, Emeritus Director-General of the World Health Organization and Inaugural Dean of the Vanke School of Public Health of Tsinghua University, delivered a speech entitled “Global Health Governance”. She pointed out that we are living in a highly mobile and interconnected world. The COVID-19 pandemic plays havoc with global health governance and will continue to have a severe impact on work and life, causing global economic instability. The world is unprepared for such a public health crisis. Margaret Chan then stated that the United Nations is a key stage for international cooperation and for dealing with international issues, and global cooperation is the last vehicle for bringing into play global governance. We should effectively bring the role of the United Nations into full play and foster cooperation among countries to prevent the coronavirus from corroding our society and spreading distrust and differences. The people of the world call for the leaders of all countries to make the right choice at this critical juncture and to opt for cooperation instead of disagreement. She also suggested that we cultivate talents with an agile mind and work together to meet the challenges in today’s era.

 

Margaret Chan delivering a speech

John Holdren, the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, stressed the importance of rebuilding China-US cooperation in science and technology despite political tensions. On the one hand, the scientific and technological cooperation between China and the United States is the most important international relationship in the field of science and technology. Through cooperation, the two countries can share the latest expertise and state-of-the-art technology to cut the cost of technological development while meeting the global technological needs and thus benefiting the people of the world. On the other hand, scientific and technological cooperation serving bilateral interests helps promote bilateral diplomatic relations under which the two countries can foster cooperation on important diplomatic issues and build relationship based on trust and equality. Prof. Holdren recalled that China and the United States jointly met a host of challenges in such areas as nuclear arms control, climate change, and pollution prevention and treatment. He also reiterated that China and the US must restore cooperation in science and technology regardless of differences in bilateral political relations.

 

John Holdren delivering an online speech

Lou Jiwei, a member of the Standing Committee Member and Chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, delivered a speech entitled “Consolidating the Foundation of Public Governance to Meet the Challenges of Global Governance”. He pointed out that international governance—the governance of international public affairs—calls for the basis of multilateralism and for participating countries to negotiate and formulate rules. Currently, the United Nations plays a central role in these rules. The current reform of global governance falls behind economic globalization. To solve problems in global governance, various countries are required to consolidate the foundation of domestic public governance as a starting point. Then, in the case of prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, he proposed that the current hierarchical management system should be adjusted to suit reality, and the central governments should exercise centralized management of affairs with global externality. He suggested that the cultivation of public management talents can be improved in terms of fiscal theory, economics theory, international comparative research, law, and politics, among others.

 

Lou Jiwei delivering a speech

Paul Romer, University Professor in Economics at New York University and Nobel Laureate in Economics, gave a speech entitled “People not Papers”. He mentioned that after World War II, the American university education system gradually shifted from a focus on pragmatism and cultivation of talents with practical abilities to the current teaching model that focuses on scientific exploration. However, acquiring genuine knowledge and experience from practice is difficult for an rigid academic system. Judging by the response to this COVID-19 pandemic, Paul Romer said that China performed better than the US in this aspect, which to him, is attributed to many factors. Apart from political factors, Asian countries are relatively more experienced in responding to epidemics. He believes that we can learn from countries that perform well, and our different systems will not prevent us from mutual learning. In the face of global issues, the international community should use relevant academic outcomes as reference and involve enterprises and all sectors of society to join in the decision-making process.

 

Paul Romer delivering an online speech

Chen Deming, Former Minister of Commerce of China, Former Chairman of the Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, and Director of Institute of Taiwan Studies, Tsinghua University, shared his thoughts on peaceful development across the Taiwan Straits. First, under the precondition that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, the two sides follow the WTO multilateral rules, honor the agreements reached between the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), develop cross-strait trade and investment, and create conditions for launching cross-strait service trade. Second, as the epidemic rages on, both sides of the Taiwan Straits should strengthen the support to each other and achieve win-win cooperation, including mutual recognition of nucleic acid testing results, among others. Third, the two sides should promote cross-strait youth exchanges and integration; encourage Taiwanese youth to study, work, and start businesses in the mainland; and treat them on an equal footing. Fourth, the upcoming new American administration is hoped to abide by the “One China” principle and the three China–US joint communiqués to work together in bilateral and multilateral economic and trade relations and jointly uphold multilateralism. Fifth, entrepreneurs and investors from Taiwan and other economies are expected to seize the opportunities presented by the new development pattern of “dual circulation” in Mainland China, take note of vibrant future development as well as investing and developing in Mainland China.

 

Chen Deming delivering a speech

Xie Fuzhan, President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Secretary of the Leading Party Group, and Chairman of the Presidium of the Academic Division, delivered a speech entitled “Strengthening the International Cooperation of Think Tanks to Solve Global Problems ”. He stated that international cooperation among think tanks plays an important and special role in putting forward and implementing solutions to global problems. First, it helps promote the exchanges and mutual learning of world civilizations and reach a basic consensus on solving global problems. Second, it helps provide a beneficial supplement to diplomatic solution to global issues among governments. Third, it helps promote dialogue and exchanges among different entities and seek the largest common ground for resolutions to global issues. Fourth, it helps provide knowledge-based global public goods and explore solutions to global issues. He suggested that China’s new-type think tanks should start with focusing on major and important issues; putting in place long-term mechanisms; and innovating cooperation measures, with a view to exerting more important influence in international cooperation, pushing for solutions to global issues, and building a beautiful home for mankind.

 

Xie Fuzhan delivering a speech

Lu Mai, Vice Chairman of China Development Research Foundation (CDRF) and Secretary-General of China Development Forum, gave a speech entitled “Strengthening Global High-level Communication to Promote the Progress in Global Governance ”. He believes that as the China–US relations worsen and the communication channels are considerably narrowed, fostering exchanges among countries is an imperative task. As a non-profit organization, the China Development Research Foundation will endeavor to promote exchanges between China and the US and reach mutual understanding at all levels. To increase communication and exchanges at different levels, China and the US should expand the channels and scope of communication, increase the opportunities and frequency of exchange, and seek areas of bilateral cooperation. Therefore, he suggested that the Tsinghua SPPM should increase the courses on communication and stress communicative skills in the teaching of public management courses.

 

Lu Mai delivering a speech

Sandra O. Archibald, Dean Emeritus and Professor at the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, University of Washington, delivered a speech entitled “The Value of Dual Degrees in Public Administration and Policy in Strengthening Global Governance”. She mentioned that the international community has reached a consensus on enhancing global governance, and it is necessary to consider how to deal with the challenges from the perspective of policy formulation. However, existing policies focus on single areas, thereby preventing the understanding of the myriad problems faced by the international community from an overall perspective. Therefore, it is important to accelerate interdisciplinary research and apply research outcomes into practice with pragmatic attitude. She pointed out that previous exchanges of international students were often characterized by one-way flow of students, whereas international cooperation in education is a powerful form in promoting two-way exchanges. Due to the pandemic, international exchanges have been profoundly limited currently, however, she still hopes that continued efforts be made to boost international cooperation in education and enhance students’ cross-cultural communication and public governance capability, which will promote global governance.

 

Sandra O. Archibald delivering an online speech

Yang Bin, Vice President and Provost at Tsinghua University, delivered a speech entitled, “Giving Full Play to the Advantage of Being in the Universities: Ethics Education and S&T Education in Public Talent Cultivation”. He held that the new landscape in the new era puts forward new requirements for “more modest” public management talents. This feature is a requirement from the perspective of behavior and capability rather than virtue. However, overemphasis on specialized education contradicts the cultivation of humility. He said that diversity creates an environment for humility, and openness lays the foundation for the cultivation of humility. The public management education in universities should give full play to its advantages in terms of student selection, curriculum settings, cultivation programs formulation, to name a few, creating an open and diverse community for talent cultivation and attaching great importance to the basic science and technology education for public management talents in terms of new literacy skills.

 

Yang Bin delivering a speech

Second Session of the Annual Meeting

 

Zhou Xiaochuan, the GAB Chinese Co-Chair hosted the second session of the meeting under the theme of “Global S&T Cooperation and Cultivation of Public Management Talents”

Xue Lan, a senior liberal arts professor at Tsinghua University, Director of the Academic Committee of Tsinghua SPPM and Dean of Schwarzman Scholars, presented a brief report on Tsinghua SPPM’s efforts of global cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. First, Tsinghua SPPM advances research on anti-epidemic policies, provides emergency decision making, and exerts rigorous efforts in summarizing China’s practices in the fight against the pandemic. Second, Tsinghua SPPM participates in relevant international seminars and shares research outcomes and wisdom. Third, Tsinghua SPPM joins international discussions aimed at fostering cooperation and eliminating misunderstandings to promote a consensus on international cooperation. Fourth, Tsinghua SPPM provides communication channels and is entrusted to issue appreciations and solicitudes from the international community for China’s fight against the epidemic by proxy. Fifth, Tsinghua SPPM supports the global fight against the pandemic in various ways, demonstrating the international sentiments of the Tsinghua SPPM.

 

Xue Lan introducing Tsinghua SPPM’s efforts of global cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic

Aiji Tanaka, Professor and President of Waseda University, Japan, introduced the response of Waseda University to the COVID-19 and beyond. First, Waseda University has been working to minimize maximum regret or damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and has implemented the UN sustainable development agenda. Waseda University cancelled graduation and opening ceremonies, postponed the resumption of classes, adopted hybrid education, among others. While ensuring that “No one will be left behind” it guarantees the safety of faculties and students, improves high-quality teaching, and conducts sustained research. Second, Aiji Tanaka attached special attention to the development prospects of hybrid education and digital technology. He thinks that this innovative teaching method combining face-to-face and online teaching as well as related technologies offer other flexible teaching scenarios and cut the costs of attending international conferences. Finally, he called on everyone to value the application of digital technology in higher education and carry out further research.

 

Aiji Tanaka delivering an online speech

Wu Hongbo, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on European Affairs, Former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of China International Public Relations Association, and Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals of Tsinghua University (TUSDG), pointed out that global cooperation in science and technology requires excellent public management professionals. He believes that in the raging pandemic, the governments of various countries have been subjected to the same stress test. Different countries perform differently in the fight against the epidemic, but effective public management is critical to the success of the fight. More and more scientific and technological achievements are the results of international cooperation. Therefore, the international community is required to draw up transnational policies and measures; improve international governance; foster international cooperation; formulate public policy and new technology standards; give full play to the potential of technology; lower risks; and strike a balance between economic efficiency, fairness, and ethics. He also proposed that outstanding public management professionals should possess a broad international perspective, rich technological knowledge, an inclusive mind and policy innovation capabilities, a willingness to foster sustainable development, and sound capabilities in international communication and cooperation, thereby enhancing international technological cooperation.

 

Wu Hongbo delivering a speech

Muhammad Yunus, Founder of the Grameen Bank at Bangladesh and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, called for “No going back” on the reconstruction work in the post-pandemic world. He held that the COVID-19 pandemic rang the alarm for the fragility of the global economic system and substantially affected global production and life. In the case of the financing difficulties faced by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), SMEs with survival threats often have no choice but to choose financing methods such as loan sharks or shadow banking. Eventually, temporary relief culminates in disaster. In view of this problem, giving full play to the role of inclusive finance is critical now. It has positive significance for putting people first, narrowing the gap between the rich and poor, and improving the well-being of the people. It is also applicable to the developing countries and the whole world. Dr. Yunus pointed out that the pre-pandemic world people were fraught with challenges, and the post-pandemic recovery should adopt new strategies instead of repeating the same mistakes.

 

Muhammad Yunus delivering an online speech

Robert J. Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago, delivered a video speech with the theme of global challenges and university cooperation. He mentioned that the events such as the current global pandemic and climate change raised our awareness that the many problems can only be solved through global cooperation. Therefore, talents must be produced with an international vision—the value that higher education should create for students. He said that the developments of higher education should be viewed from a global perspective. Students’ international perspective and cross-cultural communicative skills should be cultivated to help them become new-generation leaders who can truly deal with global challenges.

 

Robert J. Zimmer delivering an online speech

Danny Quah, Professor and Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, stressed the importance of global science cooperation in a time of nation-based rivalry. He held that the COVID-19 pandemic requires reflection on the problems of the public health system and the national governance system. This idea is closely related to the opposition and hostility among countries. First, hostility and competition among countries have widened the gap between the rich and poor. We must therefore reflect on elite politics and its connection with decision making. Second, the raging COVID-19 awakened us to the public’s distrust of public health and lack of scientific knowledge on epidemic prevention. Third, the COVID-19 affects effective exchanges in the scientific community and the inherent practice of international exchanges. Finally, he stressed that international competition is not a zero-sum game. In the long term, competition will persist between China and the United States, but cooperation in science and technology should continue. Scientific and people-to-people exchanges should facilitate healthy international competition and human progress.

 

Danny Quah delivering an online speech

Frédéric Mion, President of Sciences Po, delivered a speech entitled “Being A Global University in A Post-mobility World”. He said that a global educational institution should first pay attention to the research subjects with a global attribute, and research must be evidence-based and scientific. Second, it must attract excellent students from all over the world and should be composed of students from diversified backgrounds. Finally, it must be sufficiently active internationally and participate in academic and global technological network. Frédéric Mion mentioned that the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly slowed down global mobility, and universities face immense challenges and new opportunities. Universities worldwide should adopt diverse teaching models such as online and offline integrated teaching method in response to the epidemic and endeavor to provide quality educational resources for all students from all over the world.

 

Frédéric Mion delivering an online speech

Ma Huateng (Pony), Tencent’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, gave remarks on talent development and corporate responsibility in the era of public policy management digitalization. He first proposed that public management and technological progress influence each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. On the one hand, digital technology provides a reliable toolkit for public management, thereby enabling the economy and society to be relatively stable and resilient in the face of public security risks. On the other hand, as digital capabilities improve, how to safeguard user privacy based on the principle of technology for social good is an important issue for the Chinese society and the global public management community. Therefore, he held that public management should interact with technological progress, talent cultivation should be improved, and enterprises should fulfill social responsibilities of assisting the reform and innovation of public management. These important steps will lead to the coordinated development of public management and digital technology; solve a host of challenges in governance; build a vibrant, reliable, and sustainable smart society; and showcase the values of technology for social good.

Ma Huateng delivering an online speech

Ngaire Woods, Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University, gave a speech entitled “Role of Universities in Fostering Global Cooperation”. In this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she said that universities should play a positive role in information sharing, promoting mutual trust, scientific research, and international cooperation. Second, given the widening gap between the rich and poor caused by the epidemic, the academic community should make bold innovation and foster cooperation and come up with practical measures to promote social fairness and justice. Third, universities should give full play to their influence in bringing together stakeholders with different backgrounds and stance to openly discuss different or even conflicting views and facts. Woods expressed the hope that the international community will set up an international multilateral mechanism and conduct free exchanges among open minds. Only through open cooperation and bold thinking can the society be better.

 

Ngaire Woods delivering an online speech

Chen Qingtai, Former Secretary of the CPC Leadership Group, State Council Development Research Center, Former Vice-Minister of the State Economic and Trade Commission, and the Founding Dean of the School of Public Policy and Management, delivered a speech entitled “Strengthening the School’s Cultural Construction and Consolidating the School’s Cultural Foundation” He said that university time is an important period for students to reach adulthood and for tempering the soul. University is the most important place for cultural inheritance and communication. constructing a fresh university culture is the common aspiration of the country and society. While being the “minority” from the perspective of society, public managers control important resources of the country and areas under jurisdiction and exert significant influence. Therefore, public managers should consider the public as on community and work to maximize public interests. He suggested that the Tsinghua SPPM should construct the school culture on the basis of the Tsinghua campus culture and incorporate cultural construction into the teaching process according to the characteristics of public management discipline and talent cultivation.

 

Chen Qingtai giving a speech

In the concluding remarks, Jiang Xiaojuan described present time as a special period. China will begin its “14th Five-Year Plan”, and getting rid of the impact of the pandemic will take a long time for the whole world, therefore we must cooperate on all aspects. It is hoped that we can combine the forces of academia, rationality, and theory, as well as the perspectives of the past, present, and future to influence the public sector, the public, and academia, and foster increased cooperation in global governance to build a more harmonious and better world. It is hoped that the GAB members will continue to support the work of Tsinghua SPPM.